On May 17, 1986, a new song began a three week run at Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”: “Greatest Love of All” (video up top) by American singer Whitney Houston went to Number One this week forty years ago. The song, originally titled “The Greatest Love of All”, was first released as a single in 1977 by George Benson, and I think I may have heard his version somewhere around that time. However, I certainly know I heard Houston’s version—it was almost impossible to miss it at the time.
Houston’s version by released March 18, 1986, and was the seventh and last single from her eponymous debut album, Whitney Houston, which was released in February 1986. As was more common than not for me in 1986, I didn’t buy the single or the album.
Something else that’s not unusual for me is that I wasn’t particularly fond of this song—Houston’s performance was great (I’d already liked some of her earlier songs from that debut album), but I thought the song lyrics were too self-centred—even self-obsessed. Even all that time ago, I wasn’t a fan of the “you must love yourself” ethos—I didn’t even really understand what, precisely, gurus meant by that. So, I certainly didn’t consider love of self to be "the greatest love of all". But, hey, it was the 1980s, wasn’t it? Anyway, my dislike was the song, not the performance. That’s happened from time to time, but it is kinda rare for me.
Probably like a lot of people (maybe most people?), I thought Houston’s life was tragic, with so many “if only…” thoughts about her life. And yet, things were what they were, and she did produce some awesome music over the course of her career.
“Greatest Love of All” reached Number One in Australia, Number One and Canada (Platinum), Number 12 in New Zealand (Gold), 8 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and on their “Adult Contemporary” charts. The song was certified 2x Platinum in the USA.
The album Whitney Houston reached Number One in Australia (5x Platinum) and Canada (Diamond), 3 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), 2 on the UK’s Albums and also Dance Albums charts (4x Platinum), and it was Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart and their “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart. It was certified 14x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return in three weeks, on June 7, with the next new Number One from 1986. It’s not a one-week hit.
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1986” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 1 – January 18, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 2 – February 15, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 3 – March 1, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 4 – March 15, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 5 – March 22, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 6 – March 29, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 7 – April 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 8 – May 3, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 9 – May 10, 2026
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